The mental health field is like conjoined twins. Of course one is the evil twin, and the other is nice. But since they’re joined at the hip, life is a struggle. The mental health field has been painfully extracting its humane mission from old school authoritarian and medical thinking, along with a big dose of cruel moralism since ancient history.

Please allow me to offer some encouraging news; constructive innovations in the mental health field. Read more →

Free Won’t

It’s a good thing my brain has some time to decide what I’m going to do before I exercise my free will. God knows what kind of trouble I’d get into without that extra time! Your brain takes about two seconds to commit itself to a behavior before you know that you are choosing to do it. (We know this because of brain research, particularly that of Dr. Benjamin Libet, who died in 2007.) Read more →

Let’s Start with Rats

With visions of hangovers dancing in many readers’ minds (and brains), and in the minds of whoever saw them doing what people do when they are intoxicated (or saw it on YouTube.com); I thought I’d bring your attention to some rats. Science is learning more about why alcoholics are able to stay in denial, and why anyone should be afraid of bingeing. Read more →

On a futon near the German ice cream punchbowl, I was dressed in a trench coat and low-brimmed hat, providing Tarot readings. I called myself Richard Psychic the Psychic Dick (that is, forensic psychic). I looked up from under my hat to see the Easter Bunny and Jesus Christ. This had a certain effect on me. I’m not sure if it was the obvious irony, or the brain hemorrhage, which is Irish cream that takes the form of a brain when placed on top of peach schnapps. The finishing touch is a small dollop of bright red grenadine dropped through the center of the Irish cream “brain” with mortal results, and the whole thing tastes bad. Read more →

In part 1, I talked about subliminals. Now let’s connect some more dots.

Here’s something weird. When people see the subliminal message, “Mommy and I are one” repeatedly over a period of time, they become better-adjusted people. When my boy was little, I heard a lot of Barney songs, and that had an uplifting effect on me. So why I’m listening to Frank Zappa right now, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the non-subliminal messages promoting anti-authoritarianism and complete sexual irresponsibility. Read more →

Let’s start with marketing and subliminals.

Many years ago, I was chatting with a pal in the local Mexican restaurant, when I suddenly felt a pang of shame. My first reaction was to wonder what I had just said that was so embarrassing. It occurred to me, though, that if I had said something so embarrassing, I would have noticed that first, before feeling shame. After all, I would have to know I was supposed to feel ashamed before actually going to the trouble to feel that way, wouldn’t I? Read more →